Housing and end thrust bearing device for railway vehicle axles



Nov. 19, 1935. J G, BLUNT 2,021,167

HOUSING AND END THRUST BEARING DEVICE FOR RAILWAY VEHICLE AXLES FiledFeb. 2, 19:54

Ficsfa.-A ,m 2 Lgf-IGL- `A RNEY Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATESHOUSING vAND END THRUST BEARING DE- VICE FOR RAILWAY VEHICLE AXLES JamesG. Blunt, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to American Locomotive Company,New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 2, 1934,Serial No. 709,451

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a housing and end thrust bearing device for anaxle of a railway vehicle.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved device embodying ahousing for an axle of a railway vehicle and an end thrust bearing forthe axle disposed within the housing.

A further object is to provide an improved device of the characterdescribed embodying means whereby the thrust bearing will be insuredconstant adequate lubrication.

A further object is to provide a device of the character describedwherein the thrust bearing is adapted to limit outward lateral movementof the axle to a predetermined amount thereby eliminating the necessityfor a wear plate for the adjacent wheel hub and to oiier resistance tosaid movement. i

' A further object is to provide a device of the character describedwherein the thrust bearing is carried by an outer end cover of thehousing.

A further object is to provide a device of the character last describedwherein the cover is hingedly connected relative to the housing adaptingit for hinged movement, together with the thrust bearing, to closed andOpen positions.

A further object is to provide a device of the character describedembodyinga lubricant cellar for the housing removably connectedtherewith and an end cover for the housing, with the cover and thethrust bearing for the axle carried by the cellar.

A further object is to provide a device of the character describedwherein the thrust bearing is supported by an outer end cover for thehousing hingedly connected relative thereto, adapting the thrust bearingto be swung away from the axle without disturbing the relationship ofthe axle and the housing, facilitating adjustment, replacement orrepairs of the thrust bearing or main journal bearing and enablingconvenient packing of the journal lubricant.

A further object is to provide a device of the character last describedwherein the cover is provided with a lidded opening whichopening affordsaccess to the interior of the housing without disturbing the thrustbearing.

A further object is to provide a deviceoi the character describedembodying a lubricant cellar for the housing and a cover for the outerend of the housing, with the cover, thethrust bearing and the cellarassembled as a unit and adapted to be installed in and removed from thehousing as a unit.

A further object is to provide an ,axle housing,

a cover for an end of the housing and. a removable lubricant cellar forthe housing, with the cover carried by the cellar.

A further object is to provide a housing for an axle and end thrustbearing means for the axle hingedly connected with the housing 4forswinging movement' away from the normal working position thereof andincluding a resistingly movable bearing member, automatically operablemeans for maintaining alignment of the bearing member with the axlethroughout Athe range of the resisting movement thereof, and furtherautomatically operable means for assisting in returning the bearingmember to normal central alignment when it is being returned to itsnormal l5 position after resisting movement therefrom.'

Other and further objects of and advantages achieved by the inventionwill be apparent from the following description of an approvedembodiment thereof and theappended claims. 20

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a side view of an axle housingor box embodying the present invention, the housing being formedintegrally with a frame member; Fig. 2 is a front end view of the boxshown in Fig. l with the frame member shown fragmentally; Fig. 3 is asection on the line III-III of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 at the left side is asection on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3, and at the right side is a sectionon the line IV'-IV' of Fig. 3; Fig. 5is a section on the line 30 V-V ofFig. 3, with certain parts removed, the journal box cover beingindicated by broken lines in its openpositiomFig. 6 is an enlarged planview of the plunger shown in Fig. 3; Fig. I is a section on the lineVII-VII of Fig. 6; and Fig. 35 8 is a iragmental section on the lineVIII- VIII of Fig. '7.

The device of the present invention comprises an axle journal housing orbox indicated generally by the numeral l, which housing is formed 40integral with an end portion 2 of a railway vehicle side frame member 3.

The housing comprises side walls 4 and 5, a rear end wall 6 and a topwall l. An opening 8 is formed in the wall 6 through which an axle jour-45 nal 9 extends into the housing. A dust guard I0 is secured over theopening 8, around the journal, a suitable securing plate Illa beingprovided for holding the guard in position.

A journal bearing Il and a bevelled topped journal bearing wedge I2 areprovided between the upper wall 1 oi the housing and the top of thejournal. A longitudinal groove l2aJ is formed in the bottom of the wedgeand the upper facerof the bearing is shaped `to iit within the groove.5.5

Y upper wall 1 of the housing adjacent the outer end of the wedge, thewedge being thus held Iii against outward movement. An upwardly eX-tendin'g flange IIb is formedon the rear eind of the bearing engagingthe rear end of theY wedge,

Vthus preventing'outward movement of the bear- -ing and inward movmentof the wedge.

A spreader I3 is provided at the bottom of the housing between the sidewalls 4 and 5., The spreader I3 includes a horizontal wall I4, havingraised seats I5 formed thereon for slidably `supporting a cellarhereinafter described, and downwardly extending side flanges I6. Twospaced lugs I1 are formed on each of the oppositeside walls 4 and 5 atthe bottoms thereof. A bolt hole I8 is formed in each lug I1.Corresponding bolt holes I9 are formed in each side iange IE, one VholeI9 adjacent each hole I8. The holes I8k and I9 at the iront end portionof the housing and of the spreader are in alignmentwith each other and abolt is passed therethrough. Similarly the holes I8 and I9 at the rearend portion or" the housing and of the spreader are in alignment witheach other and a bolt 2| is passed therethrough. Nuts 22 are provided onthe ends of the bolts 26 and 2I. The 'wall i4 is curved at its front andrear portions and passes downwardly around the respective bolts 20 and2l (see Fig. 3).

All of the aforedescribed structure is substantially of the usual wellknown design.

The'cellar 24 is disposed within the journal housing. The cellarcomprises a bottom Wall 25 which rests on the seats I5, and a rear endwall 26 and side walls 21 whichrextend upwardly from the bottomwall toapproximately the horizontal center plane of the journal, the Wall 26being shaped at itsrupper'edge to conform to the journal. The walls 21flare at the front portions there- YofY and the bottom wallv 25 isVcorrespondingly shaped providing increased space within the cellar atthe outer end of the journa The'front .end of the journal housing isopen and outwardly extending flanges 28 are formed at the front ends ofthe walls 4 and 5. The front ends of the walls-21 of the cellar extendoutwardly beyond the front ends of the walls 4 and 5. The'front end ofthe bottom Wall 25 of the cellar also extends beyond the front end ofVthe spreader I3 and slants upwardly. A top wall vided for the cellarbetween the side walls 21 above the upwardly slanting end portion of thebottom wall across the extended portions of the walls 21. An outwardlyextending ange 3U is formed on the front end portion of the side walls'21 and the top wall 29 of the cellar. The flange bears at its sideportions against the ilanges 28. Coinciding bolt holes 3I and 32 areformed in the Vi'lang`es'28 and 30 respectively, two at each side of thehousing. Bolts 33 are passed vthrough the respective adjacent holes 3Iand 32 and nuts 33a are provided on the ends of therbolts 33, the cellarbeing thus secured to the box. The cellar thus provides an opening 34,which is spaced from the end of the journal, for a plunger and its as--sociated parts hereinafter described. The frontend of the cellarprovides aframe for securing a cover135 thereto which is provided forthe yopening 34. The cover comprises a boxshaped structure, the rearedgesrof which coincide with the front edges of ',the cellar 'when theY29' is pro-Y Y cover isV in closed position. Lugs 36 are integrallyformed on the flange 30 and extend forwardly, twoat each of the oppositesides of the cover. Corresponding lugs 31 are integrally formed on thesides of the cover 35 and extend outwardly therefrom, two on each side,between the two lugs on their respective sides. VPin holes 36a and 31aare formed in the lugs 36 and 31 respectively, the holes 36a and 31a onthe respective' sides of the cover and cellar being in alignment, andpins 38 are vertically passed through these holes. Therupper ends of thepins are suitably in Fig. 5.

headed, andj'cotters are provided in the lower ends At the front end ofthe upwardly slanting front end portion of the-wall 25 a forwardlyextended lip 39 is formed. The bottom portion of the cover 35 slantscorrespondingly to the front end:

of the wall 25 Vand when the oover'is in closedV position the lip 39extends over Vthe joint of theY adjacent bottom edges of the cover andcellar. YThe side walls 21 of the cellar at their front end portions areconnected with theY lipn39 by vertical walls 39a (see Fig. 5). It willthus be apparent that oil may be retained in the cellarV ata levelhigher than the adjacent loweredges of the coverand cellar withoutpossible leakage between these edges.

An opening 4I! is formed centrally in the cover I 35 and a sleeve 4I isformed on the inner or rear side of the cover and extends rearwardly Theedge of from the edges of the opening 43.

the opening 43 at the front face of the cover is shaped toprovide ab-all seat 42 for a purpose.

hereinafter described. A slot 43 is provided in the top of the sleeveand drip'holes 44. are'provided inthe bottoni of the sleeve.V At theinner end. of the sleeve its interior is square-shaped providing aibearing seat indicated vat 45"(see Fig. e);

Above the opening 46 an Yoil passage 46 is provided through the cover,the passage 46 open-V ing intorthe slot 43 ofthe sleeve, thus permittingoil to-be directly supplied to the interiorof the',

sleeve from outside the housing.

In the upper portion of the cover 35 a square opening^41 is formed an'dalid 48 `is hingedly secured over the opening 41. The lid 48 and itshinge are of the usual well known journal box lid and hinge design.

A plunger indicated generally bythe numeral. 43 is provided opposite theouter end of the journal. The plunger comprises asubstantially circularbearing plate 56 disposed adjacent the outer end of the journal and astem 5I which extends forwardly frorn the plate through the sleeve 4land the opening 4E) to the'routsideof the cover.

The` front end portion 52V of the stem 5I is round and is Ythreaded asindicated at 52a. The central portion 53 of the stem is U-shaped in.cross section, a longitudinal groove 54 being formed in its uppersurface, registering with the slot Y43 formed in the top of. the sleeve.vThe centralV portion 53 or" the stern is joined to the plate 5U byV aportion 55 which is square in cross section and is disposed within thesquare bearing seat 45 of the sleeve. Aholey or passage 56 is formedthrough the plate and through the portions and'53 of the stem. Radialholes 51 Y connect the passage 53 with/the groove 54 `in the steinportion .53. A suitable lubricant wick 58 is disposed in the passage 55and aperforated cap 59 is iitted in the rear end thereof (in the plate5B) for holding the wick in place. The edges of the plate 5i! are'cutaway as indicated at'Eli and are bevelled as indicated at 5 l Aball-faced seating 62 is disposed around the end portion 52 oi the stem5l and normally rests upon the seat t2. A nut 63. is provided on thefront end of the stem 'adjacent the outer surface of the seating E2.With anyV spring resisting movement oi the plunger a universal movementis provided for the stem at its rear end by a slight amount oi` playwhich is permitted between the portion 55 and the seat 45, thuspermitting the plunger to adjust itself to various angularities of thejournal which are permitted by the curved upper surface of the wedge l2,so that the oppositelyi-disposed bearing surfaces of the plate 5S andthe journal will be in full surface engagement in all oi the angularpositions of the journal. The seating 52 cooperates with the seat 52 toprovne a socket connection for the iront end oi the stem so that whenthe plunger is returned to normal position after movement therefrom, thefront end of the stem will be automatically returned to its norm-alcentral position for proper alignment of the stem with the axle.

A helical spring 54 is disposed around the sleeve. The spring bears atits front end against the cover 35 and at its rear end against the plate5i). Washers 65 and 55a however are disposed between tlie rear end ofthe spring and the plate 5t. The washer 55 has an inside diameterslightly larger than the diameter of the stem portion 55, so that thiswasher extends between the plate 50 and the rear end of the sleeve. Theinside diameter oi the washer 55a is the same as the inside diameter ofthe spring so that it does not extend between the plate and the rear endof the sleeve.

In normal position the spring will hold the plunger at its innermost orrearwardmost position as shown in Fig. 3. In this normal position therewill be space indicated at 56 between the plate (or more particularlythe` washer 65) and the inner end of the sleeve. In the normal lateralposition the outer end of the journal will be slightly spaced from theplate 55 as indicated at Si. When the axle vjournal moves laterally inthe direction of and engages the plate 5i), it will provide an endthrust bearing therefor. lBy virtue of the spring the plunger will actto yieldingly resist this lateral movement of the journal and aid inreturning it to its normal position relative to the housing. The outwardlateral movement from normal permitted the journal will be limited oythe amounts of space indicated at 55 and el', that is to say when theplunger has been forced outwardly to a position where the plate 55 (i.e. the Washer 65) bears against the rear end of the sleeve furtheroutward lateral movement of the journal will be prevented.

. By employing washers of diierent thicknesses in place of the washer55a variations of the spring load on the plunger may be made withoutaltering range of lateral movement of the plunger. By employingwashersioi different thicknesses in place of the washer SbOth-the springload and the range of lateral movement of the plunger may be varied.Further in place of the tvvo washers 55 and a suitable step washer maybe employed and step washers having steps of different thicknesses mayloe substitutedtherefor in order to eiict variances in either or both oithe spring load and range of plunger lateral movement as desired. Also aWasher may be employed, eithei'separately in place of hoth washers 55and or with the washer 65 in place of the washer 55a, which has aninside diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the stem portion 55and an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the spring, sothat it extends between the plate 5l) and the end of the sleeve but notbetween the spring and the end of the sleeve. By employing washers ofdiiierent thicknesses in place of this washer the range of lateralmovement of the plunger may be varied without affecting the spring load.By suitably adjusting the nut 5,3 the amount of space at 'l between thejournal end and the plate 50 may loe varied as desired.

The wick 58 in the passage 5S of the stem aids in the propertransmission of lubricant therethrough to the adjacent surfaces of theplate and journal end. The lubricant may be supplied through either thepassage it or the opening 4'! and it will pass through the slot 43, thegroove 54, hole 51 and passage 56 as aioredescribed. Any excesslubricant supplied to the sleeve will pass through the holes 44 into thebottom of the cellar, the lip 39 extending below these holes. By virtueof the cellar being widened at its front end, when the lid 48 is open,free access will be permitted-to the packing at the bottom of the cellarwhich will be supplied in the usual manner.

As the plunger, its associated parts and the cover are formed as a unit,it will be apparent that this structure will all be moved simultaneouslyaway from the end of the axle when the cover is swung about oneor theother of the pins `33 to open position as hereinbefore described. Thusthe journal need not be disturbed when it is desired to repair or adjustthe plunger or its associated parts.

It will be apparent that the cellar 24, the cover 35, and the plunger 49and its associated parts are secured together as a unit so thatbyremoval of the nuts 33a this unit may be removed from the housing, andlikewise may be installed in the housing. y

When the journal 9 is in its normal lateral position relativeA to thehousing, its adjacent wheel hub, indicated atv 23, will be spaced fromthe journal housing, as indicated at 23a, a predetermined amount. Itwill be understood that the invention contemplates a device with theassociated parts suitably proportioned and arranged so that the space23a is of greater width than the 'combinedwidths of the spaces 55 and5l; Thus kthe outward lateral movement of the journal will loe arrested(when the sleeve 4i arrests the outward movement of the plate Eil)before the hub of the wheel comes in contact with the housing, therebyobviating the use of a hub liner.

While there has been hereinbeiore described an approved embodiment ofthis invention, it will be understood that the invention `may be appliedin connection with journal housings which are formed separately from theside frame members and guided in pedestal openings in said members, suchas shown in Patent No. 1,875,172, issued to VAlfred W. Bruce, August3i), i932, as well as journal housings which are formedV integralwithside frames and thatvarious other changes and modifications in form,arrangement of parts and details of construction may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and that all such changes andmodifications as'fall within closing said cover opening; means hingedlyconnecting said cover relative to said housing to permit'said cover tobe swung to open and closed positions; means for holding said coverinclosed position; 'an end thrust axle bearing comprising a plungerhaving a head portion adjacent the outer end ofV said axle end portionand a hollow stern connected to said head portion and supported by saidcover, said head portion being provided with Y an opening incommunication with the hollow portion of said stem; and an auxiliaryopening in said cover below the nrst said cover opening and above saidbearing stern, said auxiliary opening providing anY independent oilpassage leading from the Voutside of said housing to said stem and saidstem having an opening providing communication between its hollowportion and said auxil- A iary opening for receiving oil suppliedthrough said passage. Y

'2; In a railway vehicle, a wheeled axle having an end journal; ahousing for said journal open at its end adjacent the outer end of saidjournal;

Y a lubricant cellar detachably secured in said housing; a cover forclosing said open end of said housing hingedly connected to said cellarto permit'V said cover to be swung toV open and closed Y positions, thelowerV portion of said cover engaging a portion-of said cellar when saidcover is in closed position; a lip formed on said engaging cellarportion extending over the engaged parts of said Aengaging cover andcellar portions when said-cover is in closed position; `means forholding Y said cover in closed position; `and end thrust axle bearingmeans for said outer end of said journal supported by said coverinteriorly thereof above said lip. Y Y

3, In a railway vehicle, a wheeled axle having an end journal; a housingfor said journal open at its end vadjacent the outer endof said journal;Va lubricantcellar detaohably secured in saidY Y housingcomprising abottom wall; side walls, a

rear end wall, a front end Wall having an upwardly extending lip formedthereon, and means Y connecting said side walls with said lip; a coverfor closing said open end of said housing hingedly connected therewithto permit said cover to beV swung to open and closed positions, a lowerpart of said cover engaging a part of said'front Vend wall when saidcover is in closed position with 'said Y lip extending over said engagedparts, said means connecting said side walls withsaid lip and said lippermitting .lubricant to be retained Yin said cellar at a level abovesaid engaged parts; means for holding said cover in closed position; andan end thrust axle bearing disposed opposite said outer end of'Y saidjournal and supported-by saidV cover interiorly thereof above said lip.E

4. VIn a railway vehicle, a wheeled axle; a housing 'for an end portionof said axle; wedge and bearing means disposed between'said axle at they V 70.' open at Vits outer end adjacent ,the outer end 1 ofjsaid axleend portion; a cover for closing Ysaid top thereof and said housing;said housing being openrhousing end having an opening in its upperVoutward movement Y means is in its vaxle end when said axle portion.opposite said vwedge and bearing means permitting access to theinterior of said housing Y when said cover is'in closedfposition; ahinged lid for closing said cover opening; means hingedly Y connectingsaid cover relative to saidV housing VT:i to permit said cover tobe'swung to openand 1 closed positions; means for holding Vsaid cover inclosed position; andV end thrust axle bearing means for saidouter end ofsaid axle end portion Y carried by said cover interiorly thereof beneathsaid'cover opening. Y

V5. In a railwayvehicle, an axle having'a journal at an end thereof; ahousing forrsaid journal adapting said axle at said end for lateraloutward and tilting movements from its normal position relative to saidhousing, said housing being open at its outer end; alubricant cellardetachably secured in said housing against movement Arelativerthereto;and e'nd thrust bearing means comprising a, mounting including a coverfor closing 2.0 said open end, a bearing member having a face n oppositethe end face of said axle end, said member face beingadap-tediforengagement around its peripheral margin with said axle face,said member being adaptedfor lateral outward andz"5 tilting movementsfrom its normal position rela-V Y tive to its said mounting by saidaxleend whenV said axle end Vmoves correspondingly, means forresisting saidmovements of said member and for maintaining said engagement throughoutsaid movements of said memberwto thereby resist saidV of said axle end,means said cover to said cellar to means to be swung relative hingedlyconnecting permit said bearing to said cellar and means for holding saidooveragainst movement relative to said cellar when said bearing saidnormal positiomsaid bearing means and cellar being installable into andremovable from said housing as a unit. 40 6. In a'railway vehicle, anaxle having a journal at an end thereof; a housing for said journaladapting saidraxleatV said end for lateral outward and tilting movementsfrom its normal position relative to said housing,said housing being 15open at its outer end; a lubricant cellar secured in said housingagainst movement relativey there-V to; and end thrust bearing meanscomprising a mounting including a cover for closing-said open end, abearing member supported by said mounting Vhaving a face opposite theend face of saidVv axle end, said member face being adapted forengagement around its peripheral margin with said Y axle face, saidmember being adapted for lateral outward and tiltingV movements fromitsnormal 575 position, relative to its said mounting, by said y end movesVcorrespondingly, means for resisting said movements of said member andfor maintaining said engagement throughout said movements of said memberto thereby resist said outward movement of said axle end, said coverhaving an opening above said bearing member, a hingedrlid for closingsaid cover opening, means hingedly connecting said cover with saidcellar to permit said Vbearing means to be swung` relative toVsaid'cellar from and to its normal position, and means for hold# ingsaid cover against movement relative to Vsaid cellar when saidrbearingmeans is in itsY said normal position.

, Y Y Y JAMES G. BLUNT.

from and to its normal position, 35' Y

